Hammers boss David Moyes has admitted his big frustration at the circumstances surrounding West Ham striker Michail Antonio.
West Ham fans were angry when the transfer window came and went without any new additions.
Especially considering the clear gaps in key areas which David Moyes publicly admitted he wanted to strengthen.
So when West Ham had to toil for 120 minutes against a National League North side without their only recognised senior striker Antonio it did not improve the mood of supporters.
Antonio was absent as a direct result of his involvement in Jamaica’s hopeless World Cup qualifying campaign. He arrived back in London too late to meet with the team before they left for Kidderminster.
The latest 12,000 mile round trip to represent the Reggae Boyz saw Antonio play in three games in just six days, something he probably wouldn’t be allowed to do for West Ham given his concerning injury history.
Antonio will have clocked up over 50,000 air miles when the March internationals roll around.
Now Moyes has admitted his big frustration at West Ham’s striker circumstances but fans will not be sympathetic.
“I’ve had concerns about it, yeah, because it’s new to him,” Moyes said (Evening Standard).
“It’s not something he’s been doing since he was 21 or 22 or something like that. Obviously, they’re long travels if you’re going to Jamaica or Costa Rica or wherever it was. They’re long journeys to play the games.
“I’ll never stop anybody if they want to play for their chosen country… Of course he’s an international player so he can go away again in March.
“The only game we’ve missed without Mic is this one (against Kidderminster). He’s been here the rest of the time. We left at 2pm on Friday and Mic hadn’t turned up at the training ground yet so we weren’t able to use him.”
The irony of Moyes voicing such concerns less than a week after the transfer window closed will not be lost on Hammers fans.
Supporters have been calling for the club to sign a striker since BEFORE selling Sebastien Haller last January.
Back then Hammers fans found it unfathomable that the club were relying on one senior striker in the shape of Haller, who was struggling to make his Hammers move work.
Since his departure they have been relying on a converted winger with no back-up beyond another converted winger – Jarrod Bowen.
Frustrations at the West Ham’s inability to get the players Moyes wants boiled over following an uneventful window.
So West Ham fans will not be sympathetic to the striker situation surrounding Antonio as the Hammers were well aware of his international commitments before the window and when handing the forward a new contract recently.
More West Ham news:
Astonishing new Bowen stat piles the pressure on Southgate.
Insider claims Moyes may have spoken too soon on Zouma injury.
Sinclair slams owners over transfers and tells them to watch video evidence.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
